Foreign students stay put

FOREIGN students could be allowed to stay in the UK for up to a year after finishing their studies under plans by the European Commission.

PUBLISHED: PUBLISHED: 00:01, Wed, Mar 27, 2013

Paul Nuttall MEP, the Ukip Higher Education spokesman

A day after Prime Minister David Cameron revealed a crackdown on benefits for migrants it has emerged that meddling Eurocrats want to bring in more overseas students to fill job vacancies across the EU.

More than 200,000 non-EU students, mostly from China, India, the US and Nigeria, were issued with visas to come to the UK last year.

Now Brussels wants the visa process speeded up, and for foreigners to stay on after their studies to fill skilled jobs such as in computing. Currently they are required to have a work visa or leave after completing studies.

Paul Nuttall MEP, the Ukip Higher Education spokesman, said: “This is the EU flicking two fingers at David Cameron. He should reject these plans outright.”

Tory MP Peter Bone said: “It is a terrible idea. We have enough unemployed people who could fill the vacancies. These EU bureaucrats should butt out of our affairs.”

EU education commissioner Androulla Vassililou insisted: “It is vital we attract the brightest and best researchers and students because of what they contribute.”